Rain denies BLACKCAPS

The final match of the One Day International series between the BLACKCAPS and Sri Lanka was washed out after 28.3 overs in Hambantota today.

Everything was going right for the New Zealand and it started with captain Ross Taylor winning the toss and inserting Sri Lanka.

The BLACKCAP seamers then crashed through the Sri Lankan batting line up to have the home side reeling at 123 for eight before heavy rain swept over the ground.

Chandimal lasted only one ball, with fast bowler Tim Southee bowing him out at the start of the second over.

Southee struck again in the sixth over, getting LahiruThirimanne caught behind for 17. His new ball bowling partner, Trent Boult, joined when he had Angelo Mathews caught on the boundary for a duck to see the BLACKCAPS well on top at 34 for three.

The rot continued when Adam Milne came into the attack, as the young speedster nicked out Kumar Sangakkara for 24 to collect his first ODI scalp.

A sharp piece of work in the field by Nathan McCullum removed Mahela Jayawardene for 24. Fielding at extra cover he stretched out to stop the ball, transferred it to his throwing hand, spun around and threw down the stumps to leave the Sri Lanka captain well short of his ground and reduce the batting side to 95 for five.

Andrew Ellis compounded the hosts’ misery by first getting Jeevan Mendis caught at first slip for a nought before having Thisara Perera hole out for 11.

Unfortunately, that wicket was the final act of the match with persistent rain giving the match officials no choice but to declare the match abandoned.

Southee was outstanding with figures of three for 18 while Ellis chipped in with two. Boult and Milne took one apiece.

The first match was also abandoned with Sri Lanka winning the next three that were all rain affected.